Insurance advice required please

[Wacky Racer]

Hi all,

Came back to my car on a local council car park tonight, a note was on my windscreen wiper saying basically "Sorry, banged into your car, my husband's mobile is xxxxxxxxxxx, he will give you my insurance details"

Fortunately there were a couple of witnesses, including a PCSO, I have their names, but they were not there at the time as it happened an hour before I returned,

The car was reversed in to and my boot was damaged, it's not too bad, I estimate £250-£400 but could be more.

When I got home, I rang the number (half expecting it to be false) but a man answered, didn't deny it was his wife, so I said, I will get a quote from my body shop on Monday, I would rather not go through any insurance, so if I get a sensible (not inflated) quote would he be happy to pay me direct?

He said get a quote and depending what it is, he would transfer me the money. He seemed nice enough) He said he lived about thirty miles away.

The reason I don't really want to go down the insurance route is I have three other cars, and for the next few years one of the questions will be "Have you had any accidents, claims in the last three years?"

I have 20 years protected ncb.

I understand it will not cost me anything (hopefully), but it spoils my unblemished record through no fault of my own.

Thoughts?

[LordHaveMurci]

I had the same thing happen last year, the lady paid £300 into my account, job done!

[Mr Tidy]

I'd take his money!

Strictly speaking you ought to declare it to your insurer at next renewal, and if it ends up being a claim on the insurer of the other car you'll need to as it will be on a database somewhere.

Hope you get a good outcome anyway.

[Wacky Racer]

Thanks,

I guess I'll have to get the quote first, before deciding which way to go.

He may backtrack if it's £500......but we'll see.

I can e-mail him the photos.

[Pica-Pica]

I hit a woman’s car in a car park many years ago. I told my insurer I was settling the cost privately, no effect on my premium at all.

[Baldchap]

I would go through insurance. You're claiming on his insurance, not your own.

The difference is you get a guaranteed payout, warrantied work, a courtesy car and zero hassle.

[HustleRussell]

Wacky Racer said:

The car was reversed in to and my boot was damaged, it's not too bad, I estimate £250-£400 but could be more.

Maybe if it’s just the boot. No damage to the bumper?

[Lester H]

Don't involve insurers for a bump of this nature. Hopefully, he will pay up the small amount. Yes, it's a gamble but it you involve your insurer it will be classed as an incident. Irrespective of blame you will be technically classed as a worse risk.

[dave01253]

I had a bloke swipe my bumper while pulling into the adjacent parking spot in a car park. He stayed around to see me. We swapped details and he expected an insurance claim. I'd rather not use insurance as reasons above. I got a smart repair quote which wasn't much difference to his excess, so he sent me the money and I got the job done.

[Bennet]

Presumably they have their own damage to deal with as well, remember, so the costs might be something like double whatever you are quoted.

Stating the obvious, but it will be totally his decision whether this goes through insurance or not, and, especially since they're decent enough people to leave a note, it's probably not on to pressure him.

[JQ]

We’ve had a few no fault claims over the years and they’ve never had an impact on the following year’s renewal.

[Chubbyross]

After a no-fault accident recently I’m learning the hard way that anything involving car insurance is never hassle free. My insurance company have been great but I estimate I have now spent approximately eight or nine hours of my time on the phone since the accident, not to mention the problems of swapping a parking permit (I live in London) from my damaged car to a hire car provided by the other party’s insurance.

Before the crash I always said that anything under a grand I’d sort out myself, rather than go through insurance. I’m contemplating upping this considerably.

This accident (cab driver t-boned my car from a side street) was the first one I’ve had in over 35 years of driving. Despite it not being my fault I will now have to declare it for my other two cars and I suspect it will affect my premiums for the next few years.

OP, for the sake of a few hundred quid I really would sort that out yourself if the other party doesn’t pay up.

[C70R]

Baldchap said:

I would go through insurance. You're claiming on his insurance, not your own.

The difference is you get a guaranteed payout, warrantied work, a courtesy car and zero hassle.

So much this.

I'll never get why people tie themselves in knots and make loads of work for themselves to avoid using a service they've paid a massive chunk of money for.

[Mumsn3t]

C70R said:

So much this.

I'll never get why people tie themselves in knots and make loads of work for themselves to avoid using a service they've paid a massive chunk of money for.

You've obviously always had pleasant experiences with insurance companies. Personally I avoid the thieving scumbags whenever I can. The less you have to interact with them the simpler and cheaper life is.

Like someone said above, it's never simple or one sided, you'll suffer financially now or later on regardless of fault.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

OP, you have every right not to go thru your insurance. But you have no right to insist he doesn't go thru his. So long as your claim gets settled, you don't get to choose how the other party settles it.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Mumsn3t said:

Like someone said above, it's never simple or one sided, you'll suffer financially now or later on regardless of fault.

Utter bks. You might suffer, you might not. Plenty of people claim for non fault accidents with no future ill effect.

[Wacky Racer]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

OP, you have every right not to go thru your insurance. But you have no right to insist he doesn't go thru his. So long as your claim gets settled, you don't get to choose how the other party settles it.

Hi Twig,

Been out to have another look this morning, it's actually worse than I thought, another small crease about six inches away.

Guess it could be £500 or a bit more, I'll see tomorrow.

Spoke to the guy, explained the position, and I offered to send him some photos but he said his wife had taken some yesterday.

It's left, get the quote, see what it comes out at, and he will decide whether to just pay up (My preferred option) or go through his insurance.

[Smint]

Its always a character judgment call here, is the third party honourable and is real money going to appear or will they turn out to be a messer who has no honour.
To be fair that's also an issue for the other party, someone could accept the money stick it in their pocket and still put in an insurance claim.

Hopefully two honourable parties here come to a happy agreement.

[Jamescrs]

I've been in the same position but it was my wife who dented someone else's car with her car door and I insisted on going through insurance.

Partly because the other party wanted us to pay for a pointless dent removal service but he added once we paid for that if he wasn't happy he would want us to pay again for a body shop.

I just gave him insurance details and let them deal with it. I'd do the same again if aomething aimilar happened. I dont see a point in not using rhe insurer.

[Mumsn3t]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Utter bks. You might suffer, you might not. Plenty of people claim for non fault accidents with no future ill effect.

Calm down dear. Its never simple, I completely understand why (risk) but to say its straightforward is utter bs.

Grab yourself a little drinky poo and calm down.